JAF showcases different cultures
JAF showcases different cultures
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
This June is a month of fun and entertainment for Jakartans, with
various art and cultural festivals taking place in conjunction
with the commemoration of the capital's 476th anniversary.
Besides the annual JakArt festival, this month will also see
the Jakarta Anniversary Festival (JAF) organized by Gedung
Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ). This year's JAF will be the first of what
is scheduled to become an annual event focusing on the different
cultures that make up Jakarta society.
"It is the hundreds of years of ethnic acculturation that give
a unique face to the city's continuing arts growth," the festival
organizers said in a statement, explaining that Jakarta includes
Chinese, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Malay, Sundanese and
Javanese culture.
The festival will try to bring together these different
cultures in a week-long event, which will include Arabian music,
Jakarta folk theater, Malay dances, ballet from the Netherlands,
Chinese traditional music and opera, as well as a photo
exhibition.
Opening JAF on June 16 at 8 p.m. will be the Al Mahran gambus
(Arabian stringed musical instrument) group, directed by the
Bawazir brothers.
In addition to sarah and zapin music, the group will also
perform "desert-style disco" accompanied by Middle-Eastern
dances, the organizers said.
A dance performance by the Nan Jombang Group choreographed by
Ery Mefri will take place on June 17 at 8 p.m.
The Minangkabau dance group will bring Tiang Nagari, Adat
Salingka Nagari 2 and Bundo Kanduang, which are richly influenced
by West Sumatran culture.
On June 18 at 8 p.m. the Haji Saran Company of the Jakarta
Folk Theater will entertain the audience with a traditional
Betawi comedy, or lenong.
Established in 1997, the lenong group is known for its
spontaneity and ad-libbing.
The Introdans Ballet group from the Netherlands will perform
at JAF on June 20 and June 21, and for the JakArt@2003 festival
on June 24 at Erasmus Huis in South Jakarta.
On June 22, JAF will present a night of Chinese classical
music and Cantonese opera from the Kong Ha Hong group.
I-BOX:
The Jakarta Anniversary Festival (JAF) runs from June 16 to
June 22 at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta at Jl. Gedung Kesenian 1,
Central Jakarta. Tickets cost between Rp 25,000 and Rp 30,000.
For more information call 021-3808283 or 3441892; or email at
gkj@pacific.net.id, or check the website www.gkj-online.com.